Automatic latch concealed hinge



June M, 1938., J. S055 'ET'AL' 2,320,685

AUTOMATIC LATCH CONCEALED HINGE Filed July 18, 195e INVENTORS JOS-PH 5055 FefM/c/J 5am/Herz AT'TORNE Patented June 14, 1938 PATENT OFFlCl?.

AUTOMATIC LATCH CONCEALEDr HINGE Joseph Soss and Francis H. Schwartz, Roselle, N. J.; said Schwartz assigner to said Soss Application July 18, 1936, Serial No. 91,375

15 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to concealed hinges, and particularly, hinges of the kind of what may be termed the wide throw type adapted for use in connection with the doors or closure members of the rear compartments or luggage compartments of a motor vehicle body; and the object of the invention is to provide a hinge of the kind described, with means for automatically latching the hinge when in open position to aid in the support of ra door or swinging member in open position and prevent accidental closing thereof while at the same time permitting forcible movement of the door or swinging member into closed position; a further object being to provide a hinge of the class described employing butt members whichare angularly arranged with respect to each other when the hinge is in closed position and wherein a long arm multiple link unit is employed for movably coupling the butt parts to permit a wide throw or swinging movement of one butt part with respect to its opposed part; a further object being to employ a hinge, one of the butts of which is provided with a cam surface over which a spring pressed roller is adapted to pass, said cam surface being notched at a predetermined point to receive said roller, the same acting as a key or latch element for supporting the butt parts in separated position against accidental closing; a further object being to provide a hinge, the link arms of which are preferably composed of laminated strips to provide a simple, economical and yet strong and durable hinge structure; and with these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a hinge of the class and vfor the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specication, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of our improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a hinge made according 45 to our invention, showing the same in closed position in full lines and extended position in dotted lines; and,

Fig. 2 is a face view ofthe hinge shown in Fig. l in extended position, with parts of the construc- 50 tion broken away and in section.

The hinge forming the subject matter of the present invention is of the type and kind shown and described and claimed in a companion application Serial No. 91,374 filed of equal date herewith. The present hinge is adapted for similar (ol. ifs- 163)v uses, and while being of modified form, the latching principle herein disclosed is applicable to a hinge of the link arrangement disclosed in said companion application.

In the drawing, 5 represents one of the butts of the hinge, the butt being adapted for mounting in connection with the stationary support, whereas the butt Ii is adapted to be coupled with the door or swinging member. The butt 5 is composed of two substantially similar sheet metal parts, each having an attaching plate portion I 4provided with elongated apertures V'la to provide adjustable mounting in connection with its support.

, At 8, we have shown angularly arranged bearing plates which are provided with projecting rounded cam surfaces 9, notched or recessed at a predetermined point as indicated at Ill. Each bearing plate 8 is cut out and fashioned to form outwardly extending ears Il which are apertured to receive one end of springs I2. The other ends of said springs are mounted in grooves at the end portions of a pin I3, as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Onfthis pin is an anti-frictional roller I4 which is adapted to ride over the cam surface 9 and to drop into the notch or recess I0 as later described. The bearing plates 8 are provided with outwardly pressed portions such as indicated in section at I5 in Fig. 2 of the drawing to form restricted bearing surfaces for pairs of link arms I6 and I1 mounted on pintle pins or rivets I8 and I9 respectively, which are arranged centrally of the offset bearing portions I5.

,The butt 6 is also composed of two substantially similar parts having attaching plate portions 20 of the contour seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, which attaching plate portions will be apertured to provide suitable mounting in connection with the door or swinging member, the apertures being omitted inthe construction shown. At 2 I, are the bearing plates of the butt which extend angularly with respect to the attaching plates 28 and are preferably of the contour seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing. k

The plates 2| are arranged in spaced relation to each other and mounted between these plates are link arms 16a and Ila which are of the same construction as the arms I6 and I'I. One end of each arm is pivoted to the bearing plates on ,y

the pivots 22 and 23 respectively. The free end their ends. The last named ends of the arms I6,

IIa are offset in opposed directions, which result is accomplished by simply reversing the manner of stacking or arranging the links.

In the construction shown, the pairs of arms I 6, I1 are composed of two sheets or laminae, as will be clearly seen upon a consideration oi' Fig. 2 of the drawing, whereas, the single arms IBa and Ila are composed of three sheets or laminae so as to t between the spacing of the pain of arms I6 and I'I as is clearly represented in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Any number of the links, sheets or laminae may be arranged one upon the other to give the desired strength and rigidity, to the resulting hinge. At the same time, the link arms may be composed of single thicknesses of metal throughout, and this would be especially true where the question of cost is not a factor, and further, where a relatively light construction will suiice. hinge shown in the companionapplication not only from the standpoint of the different form of butt members employed, but also, from the standpoint of the use of the two link arms in constructing the entire link unit rather than the three arms as in said other case. Furthermore, by mounting the link arms in the manner disclosed, the necessity of utilizing bushings on the pivot pins is also eliminated..

The arms I1, I'Ia are provided intermediate their ends with elongated apertures 2l, 21a. While only the apertures V2'I in the arms I1 perform a function and use in the construction shown, it is preferred that the apertures be stamped in all arms in order to eliminate the necessity of forming two distinct arms. In the constructionshown, the pin I3 or the end portions thereof project through and are free to move in the apertures 2l in the movement of the roller I 4 from the position shown in full lines inFig. 1 tothe position of the hinge shown in dotted lines inY Fig. 1, in which latter position, said roller is dropped into the notch and the pin I is moved inwardly in the aperture 21.

While the linkage of the hinge'Y is normally suilicient to support a door or swinging member in its raised or extended position, with the'butt positioned in the dotted line position shown'in Fig. 2, by employing the automatic latching means consisting of the roller I4 entering the notch or recess IG, additional means is provided for retaining the door or swinging member against accidental closing. On the other hand, by grasping the door and forcibly moving it in the direction of closure, the roller I4 will be forced out of the notch or recess I against the action of the springs I2 and also travel over the cam surface 9 as the door continues in its movement into closed position. With this construction, a substantially fool-proof door supporting means is provided which will avoid the accidental dropping of doors or closures controlling the compartmentsl or luggage spaces at the rear of motor vehicles.

Inuse, a pair of the complete hinge units is employed in doors of the kind under consideration, one at each side of the door. VHoweven'in diiTerent types of installations, one orY more of thesehinge units may be employed. The hinge is adapted for use in connection with any type or kind of stationaryV support and swinging member where a wide throw is essential, and further, where it is desirable to automatically latch the door or swinging member when in open position. In some instances, it may be found desirable and practical to latch the door or swinging member in closed or other positions, which result may simply be accomplished by addingaddi- The present hinge diiers from the.

Vclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1 1. A concealed hinge consisting of two butts, a link unit for hingedly coupling said butts to Vprovide widethrow swinging movement of one butt with respect to the other butt, the link unit comprising a long link arm and a short link arm pivoted to each butt, means for pivoting the short arm of each butt with the long arm of the opposed butt, means for pivoting the long link arms of both butts togetherV adjacent sai-d last named pivoting means, thelong and short arms of the respective butts being of the'same size and contour, one of said butts having bearing plates arranged in juxtaposition, and the long arms pivoted to the bearing plates of said butt being arranged in pairs and disposed at outer side surfaces .of said bearing plates.

2. A Yconcealed hinge consisting of two butts, a linkunit for hingedly coupling said butts to provide widel throw swinging movement of one butt with respect to the other butt, the link unit comprising a long link arm and a short link arm pivoted to each butt, meansfor pivoting the short arm of each butt with the long arm ofthe opposed butt, means for pivoting the long link arms oi bothrbutts together adjacent said last named pivoting Ymeans, the long and short arms of the respective butts being of the same size and contour, one of said butts having bearing plates arranged in juxtaposition, the long arms pivoted tv the bearing plates of said butt being arranged in pairs and disposed at outer side surfaces of said bearing plates, and the Vother butt of the hinge having bearing plates arranged in spaced relation to each other and the link arms pivoted therewith being disposed between said plates and between the pairs ,of opposed'link arms.

A3. A concealed hinge consisting of two butts, a link unit for hingedly coupling said butts to provideY wide Ythrow swinging movement of one buttwithrespect'to the other butt, the link unit comprisinga long link arm and a short link arm pivoted to each butt, means `forpivoting the short arm of each butt with the longarm of the opposed butt, means for pivoting the long link arms of both butts together adjacent said last named pivoting means, the long and short arms of the respective butts being of the same size and contour, one. of said butts having bearingplates arranged inV juxtaposition, the long arms pivoted to the bearing plates of said butt being arranged in pairs andjdisposed at outer Yside surfaces of said bearing plates,vr the other 'butt of the hinge having bearing Yplatesl karranged in spaced relation to each otheran'd'the link arms pivoted therewith being disposed between said plates and between the 'pairs of Vopposed link arms, said link armsb'eing of laminated construction, the bearing plates of one oi` said butts having anotch or recess, anda latch yelement yieldably supported in connection with a link arm pivotally supportedin connection with the bearing plates of the last mentionedbutt, operatively engaging the notch in said bearing plates to support the hinge butts in predetermined position with respect to eachother.

4. A concealed hinge consisting of two butts, a link unit for hingedly coupling said butts to provide wide' throwswinging movement of one butt with respect to the other butt, the link unit comprising a long link arm and a short link arm pivoted to'each butt, means for pivoting the short arm of each butt with the long arm of the opposed butt, means for pivoting the long link arms of both butts together adjacent said last named pivoting means, the long and short arms of the respective butts being of the same size and contour, one of said butts having bearing platesarranged in ljuxtaposition, the longv arms pivoted to the bearing plates `ci said butt being arranged in pairs and disposed at outer side surfaces of said bearing plates, the other butt of the hinge having bearing plates arranged in spaced relation to each other andthe link arms pivoted therewith being disposed between said plates and' between the pairs of opposed link arms, said link arms being of laminated construction, the bearing plates of one of said butts having a notch or recess, a latch element yieldably supported in connection with a link arm pivotally supported in connection with the bearing plates of the last Amentioned butt, operatively engaging the notch in said bearing plates to support the hinge butts in predetermined position with respect to each other, said element comprising a roller arranged on a pin slidably engaging an elongate-d aperture in said link element, and springs coupled with said pin and bearing plates for controlling the operation of said element.

5. A concealed hinge comprising butt members and a link unit for hingedly coupling the butt members together to provide relative movement of said butt members, means movably supported on and movable with one of the links of said link unit and cooperating with one of said butt members for automatically latching a hinge in predetermined position to prevent accidental movement of the butt members with respect to each other when in such position.

6. A concealed hinge comprising butt members and a link unit for hingedly coupling the butt members together to provide relative movement of said butt members, means movably supported on and movable with one of the links of said link unit and cooperating with one of said butt members for automatically latching a hinge in predetermined position to prevent accidental movement of the butt members with respect to each other when in such position, said means comprising a spring actuated roller slidably engaging a surface on the butt member engaged thereby and a recess in said surface into which said roller is adapted to be moved by the springs controlling the operation thereof.

'7. In a hinge of the class described, one of the butts of which is provided with a bearing portion, a hinge link pivotally supported in connection with said bearing portion and movable relatively thereto, a latch element movably supported in connection with said link and movable relatively to and engaging the bearing portion of said butt, and said bearing portion having a recess into which the latch element is adapted to pass to tensionally latch said link against movement relatively to said bearing portion.

8. In a hinge of the class described, one of the butts of which is provided with a bearing portion, a hinge link pivotally supported in connection with said bearing portion' and movable relatively thereto, a latch element movably supported `in connection with said link ,and movable relatively to and engaging the bearing portion of said butt, said bearing portion having a recess into which the latch element is adapted to pass to tensionally latch said link against movement relatively to said bearing portion, and said link comprising a pair of link parts disposed on opposite sides of the bearing portion of said butt and said element comprising a roller mounted between said link parts, and means projecting from opposite sides of said roller for supporting and guiding the roller inits movement with respect to said parts.

9. A hinge of the class described employing relatively movable butts, means for hingedly coupling said butts, said last named means involving a part movable relatively to one butt part, and said last named parts being provided one with a spring actuated roller and the other with a notch for receiving said roller to automatically retain said parts against relative movement When in one position.

10. In a hinge of the class described, one of the butts of which consists of two substantially similar parts having bearing plates disposed in juxtaposition, said bearing plates having outwardly oiset bearing portions, links arranged and pivotally supported on the offset bearing portions of said plates, and the edge portions of said plates extending to form a round cam surface with a notch or recess formed therein at a predetermined point.

l1. A concealed hinge consisting of two butts, each of said butts having an attaching plate portion and an angularly extending link supporting part, the attaching plate portions of the butts being disposed in angular relationship to each other when the hinge is in closed position, a link unit for hingedly coupling said butts to provide wide throw swinging movement of one -butt with respect to the other, the link unit comprising a long link arm and a short link arm pivoted to the link supporting part of each butt, the long and short link arms pivoted to one of said butts being arranged in pairs with the long and short arms of the other butt disposed between and operating Within said pairs of arms, means for pivoting the short arm of each butt with the long arm of the opposed butt, means for pivoting the long arms of both butts together adjacent said last named pivots, and tensional means on one of said short arms and one of said butts for retaining the hinge against accidental movement in one position of said butts with respect to each other.

12. In a hinge employing relatively movable butts, means for hingedly coupling said butts, said means comprising a link unit consisting yof pairs of substantially similar links pivoted to each of said butts and to each other, one of the links and the butt member to which said link is pivoted having interengaging means for retaining said link and butt member against relative movement in one position of the link on said butt member, said means comprising a spring actuated part movably supported in said link and cooperating with a recess in said butt member.

13. A hinge of the class described comprising two butts and a link unit hingedly coupling said butts, one of said butts having spaced bearing plates within and between which two links of said unit are arranged and pivoted, the other butt having bearing plates disposed one upon the other, the other links of said unit being pivoted tothe rst named links and consisting of pairs `of link members arranged on outer surfaces of the bearing plates ofthe second named butt and ion theouter surfaces of said first named links.

14. A hinge of the class described comprising two butts and a link unit hingedly coupling said butts, one of said butts having spaced `bearing plates Within and between which twov links of said unit are arranged and pivoted, the other butt having bearing plates disposed one upon the other, the other links of said unit being pivoted yto the rst named links and consisting of pairs of link members arranged on outer surfaces of the bearing plates of the second named butt and on the 4outer'surfaces of said first named links,

means movably supported between one pair of "the second named links and cooperating with the Y bearing plates of said second named butt for retaining the butts against relative movement in one position thereof.

15. A concealed hinge consisting of two butts,

Seach' ofsaid 'butt'shavin'g an attaching plate portion andan 'angularly extending link supporting part, the attaching platerporti'ons of the butts being disposed in Iangular relationship to eachother when vthe hinge VAis in closed position, a

Vlinknnit for hingedly coupling said butts to pro- 'andshort link arms pivoted to one oi said butts being arrangedin pairsand disposed at each 'side of the link supporting part of'said butt, and the long and short arms of the other butt being disposed between and operating with said pairs of arms. Y

JOSEPH SOSS.

FRANCIS H. SCHWARTZ. 

